Native | Schmidt’s Rose | Natural Vegan Club | Schmitds Fragrance-Free | Green Goo | Crystal

An increasing number of people are ditching their aluminum-based antiperspirants in favor of natural  deodorants. I switched from antiperspirants to deodorants years ago and finding a natural deodorant that actually works has been quite the journey. I’ve tried many brands of natural deodorants and something I learned is that “natural” doesn’t always mean non-toxic. Additionally, “natural” doesn’t mean aluminum-free. In fact, one of the most popular natural deodorants is made from aluminum. In this post, I’ll go over which natural deodorants actually work well at preventing odor and keep you smelling fresh. I’ll also share how to tell the difference between antiperspirant (aluminum-based) and deodorant. Lastly, I’ll tell you why it’s important to use a natural & aluminum-free deodorant.

What’s the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant?

It’s important to first understand the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant. Put simply, antiperspirant blocks sweat and deodorant blocks smell. Antiperspirant contains aluminum salts that work by clogging and blocking sweat glands from excreting sweat, a natural cooling process, thus preventing odor. Deodorant doesn’t block sweat glands it simply masks sweat odors to keep you smelling fresh while allowing your body to perform its natural cooling process, known as sweating.

What’s the problem with using antiperspirant?

The main problem with using antiperspirant is the worry of aluminum absorption. Aluminum has been linked to breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, hormone disruption, neurological damage and more. Studies on this subject are mixed. Some research has shown a strong correlation between aluminum exposure and Alzheimer’s while others haven’t found a clear correlation. However, that could be because there simply aren’t enough studies or enough data. According to Cancer.gov, only a few studies have explored the link between aluminum-based deodorants and breast cancer. We need more studies on the subject so this is why I recommend to play it safe and steer clear of aluminum. We also know that aluminum is widely accepted as a neurotoxin and has been found in high concentrations in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s disease. This is a subject that has not been extensively studied so, in my opinion, the most logical thing to do with the findings that we do have is take precaution and stay away from products that contain aluminum. While aluminum is a naturally occurring mineral, it is not naturally found or necessary in the body at any level.

A Little TMI About Me

Before I get into this deodorant review, let me preface this by stating that I sweat very easily. I don’t sweat a lot, just a normal amount, but I do sweat very easily. For this reason, a good deodorant is very important to me and I’m constantly trying new ones to stay up to date on the most effective natural deodorants. Also, I recently did a juice cleanse and it had been a while since I’d done one. What I had failed to remember is that juice cleanses tend to make one a bit stinkier than usual because your body goes into detox mode. Luckily, I had a good deodorant. Read on to see which deodorant I used to keep me stink-free during my juice cleanse.

Crystal deodorant review

The pros:

It’s vegan & cruelty-free.

It prevents bad odors.

The cons: It’s made from aluminum.

I’m starting with the worst one because this one really is really sneaky and widely misrepresented as natural and non-toxic. Crystal deodorant sticks can be found in the natural deodorant aisles of most health food stores. However, they aren’t any more natural or safe to use than conventional deodorants made with aluminum. Crystal deodorants are available in a few varieties. The most common one you might have seen is the one pictured above, with the rollerball, or the big salt rock stick. Looking at the salt rock stick deodorant you’d think it’s just a big piece of natural salt that you rub on to prevent odor. However, these “mineral” deodorants are not what they seem. I used this deodorant for a month and it worked really well. I was actually surprised at how well it worked. Then I read the label and was shocked at what I found, it’s made from aluminum. The rollerball deodorant above contains potassium alum which is made by mixing sulfuric acid with bauxite ore; the reaction creates aluminum oxide. This is then mixed with potassium sulfate to create potassium alum, the second ingredient listed on the back of this Crystal roll-on deodorant. Don’t fall for the greenwashing marketing tactic, read the label on the back!

I say to read the label on the back because the label on the front is also designed to fool you. It reads “mineral deodorant roll-on”. What’s so deceptive about that? I mean, “mineral” sounds good. Minerals are natural, right? Well, this is technically not a lie, but it is deceptive. Minerals are natural in that they are found in nature. However, they are not all safe for the human body to absorb. For example, petroleum is a natural mineral from the earth. We use it to fuel our cars but we wouldn’t want to ingest it because it’s lethal to the human body. We also wouldn’t want to put it on our skin, however, we do, unknowingly. Petroleum is found in deodorants labeled as “petrolatum”, “mineral oil”, or just “minerals”. This ingredient is derived from crude oil. While most non-toxic deodorants can claim to be aluminum free on their product labels, Crystal deodorants cannot make the same blanket claim. There are many varieties of aluminum so Crystal deodorants try to fool the consumer by marketing “no aluminum chlorohydrate” on the front of this bottle.

Schmidt’s Deodorant Review

Now let’s talk about the best aluminum-free natural deodorant that actually works. That title goes to Schmidt’s deodorant. This is my favorite and most recommended deodorant.

The pros:

This deodorant is vegan and cruelty-free!

It’s also free of any toxic substances including aluminum, propylene glycol, parabens & phthalates. It’s got simple and clean ingredients. It’s now been about a year since I started using Schmidt’s deodorant and I keep going back to it. It’s absolutely my go-to for every day. I put this deodorant to the test on the daily. I do a heavy workout in the gym for an hour 3 days a week and cardio outdoors for an hour 3 days a week. There’s a lot of sweating on those days and this deodorant really works! It keeps me smelling like roses and I love how long it lasts.

I also love that I don’t have to reapply throughout the day. The only exception to this is when I do a juice cleanse. I do a juice cleanse once a month just for a day or two and I notice my sweat does get a little stinky on those days. This is when I do reapply about halfway through the day. And with the second application, it keeps me smelling fresh and clean. I absolutely love this formula.

Schmidt’s deodorant is available in many different scents including jasmine, coconut, tea tree, charcoal, and a fragrance-free formula which I discuss below. They even have a Lily of the Valley scent that they created in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute. Five percent of each purchase will go to the institute which helps animals.

It’s widely available. Find it at Target, Sprouts, Natural Grocers and other health food stores.

The cons:

It’s on the pricier side of the spectrum. Even so, it’s worth it! Target offers a smaller size (2.75 oz)  priced at just $5 vs the original bigger size that’s around $9. If you have a Costco membership, you can buy a three pack of the regular 3.25 oz sticks for just $10.99

It’s not organic. I hope they start making organic options soon!

The formula could be a little easier to glide on. It’s just a tad on the grainy side. Now I’m just nitpicking but this is a review so I’m saying it all!

Native Deodorant Review

I heard a lot of good things about Native deodorant so I gave it a try. I used this deodorant for a month before reviewing it. I despise overpowering chemical smelling deodorants so these are lovely because they use natural flower oils; this has a clean, subtle lavender scent that perfectly covers up any stinky sweat.

The pros:

Award-winning deodorant.

This deodorant is vegan and cruelty-free!

Free of aluminum, parabens, and sulfates.

It holds up well during intense workouts. I only had to reapply during my juice cleanse days, which produce stinky sweat.

It’s got clean ingredients like tapioca starch, coconut oil, shea butter, & lavender oil.

It glides on smoothly, more than Schmidt’s deodorant.

It’s made in the USA.

It’s available in a variety of scents including unscented and my favorite lavender rose.

It’s widely available. Shop it at Target or on their website here.

The cons:

It’s on the pricier side of the spectrum. Even pricier than Schmidt’s at $11.99 for a 2.65 oz stick.

It’s not organic. I hope they start making organic options soon!

Natural Vegan Club Deodorant Review

Before we get into this deodorant review, let me quickly introduce you to Natural Vegan Club. This deodorant comes as part of a monthly subscription box that is natural, vegan, cruelty-free and zero waste! Their packaging is compostable and all their items (including the bamboo toothbrush in every box) are biodegradable! I mean, what more could you ask for? Ok, let me tell you about this heavenly-scented deodorant.

The pros:

This deodorant is vegan and cruelty-free!

It smells fantastic! Natural Vegan Club’s deodorant is scented with natural essential oils. I could smell it before I even opened the box. The scent is citrusy and clean and really works! It’ll keep you smelling fresh all day without the need to reapply.

I absolutely love Natural Vegan Club’s compostable containers. Think about how many deodorants you go through in your life, that’s a lot of plastic! I wish all deodorants came in these biodegradable containers!

It’s Paraben Free, Sulfate Free, Aluminum Free, Cruelty-Free, Vegan, 100% Backyard-Compostable, Dye Free, Soy Free, Gluten Free Friendly, and free of all toxins!

It’s handmade.

It’s got super clean ingredients including coconut oil, shea butter, arrowroot powder, essential oils and more.

It’s a food grade product. Meaning it would even be safe to eat, but don’t because then what would you put on your underarms?

It’s good for sensitive skin.

The cons:

This deodorant is part of a subscription box but you can also order it separately directly from www.NaturalVeganClub.com.

There’s not too much product in the bottle. However, if you’re signed up for the monthly delivery it’s more than enough for a month.

It’s not organic. I hope they switch to organic ingredients soon!

Schmidt’s Fragrance-Free Deodorant Review

Ok, I raved about Schmidt’s rose vanilla deodorant but I have to be honest, this formula didn’t work for me. Schmidt’s fragrance-free deodorant is designed for those with sensitive skin and sensitivity to baking soda. I’ve heard great things about this deodorant. It’s quite effective for a lot of people but for me, it just didn’t work. I felt like I had to keep reapplying and it didn’t keep me smelling fresh for long periods of time.

The pros:

This deodorant is vegan and cruelty-free!

Clean ingredients, no aluminum, no parabens, no sulfates or dyes.

Fragrance-free.

It glides on easily.

It’s widely available. Find it at Target, Sprouts, Natural Grocers and other health food stores.

The cons:

It didn’t work for me.

It’s on the pricier side of the spectrum. Even so, it’s worth it! Target offers a smaller size (2.75 oz)  priced at just $5 vs the original bigger size that’s around $9. If you have a Costco membership, you can buy a three pack of the regular 3.25 oz sticks for just $10.99

It’s not organic. I hope they start making organic options soon!

Honest Deodorant Spray Review

It seems Honest may have discontinued this deodorant with their beauty revamp last year. I included it in this post because I’ve used it for long periods of time and was impressed with it. I still find it at Marshall’s and Ross Dress for Less stores but it does seem to have been discontinued by Honest. So if you see a bottle at Marshall’s or Ross, give it a try!

Pros:

It’s vegan & cruelty-free!

Clean ingredients, no aluminum, no parabens, no sulfates or dyes.

It really works. One spray will keep you smelling fresh for 6-8 hours. I did feel like I needed to reaplly after long days toward the evening.

Sprays on easily.

Has a clean scent.

Available in a few different scents.

Affordable. This bottle was $4.99

Cons:

Not organic

Discontinued by Honest. But it’s still periodically available at Marshall’s and Ross Dress for Less.

Green Goo Gel Deodorant Review

This natural deodorant was the least effective of them all. It didn’t work for me even a little bit. I loved the easy glide on formula and it smelled great but it didn’t hold up well against sweat and the rose scent dissipated quickly.

Pros:

It’s vegan and cruelty-free.

It glides on very easily.

It smells great.

It’s Gluten-free.

It’s free of aluminum, propanediol, Parabens, phthalates & artificial ingredients.

It’s got mostly clean ingredients including coconut oil, aloe vera leaf juice, and lemongrass oil.

Cons:

It contains two slightly questionable ingredients, glyceryl laurate, and propylene glycol.

It’s not widely available. I found this one at Marshall’s and do see them there periodically but I’ve not seen them elsewhere. You can find them online.

They’re pricey. They retail for $10.50 on their website. However, I found this one at Marshall’s for $5.99.

It’s not organic. I hope they start making organic options soon!

I hope you found this natural deodorant review useful. I tried to keep it short and to the point. If there’s something I miss or you have a question I didn’t cover, please let me know. Leave a comment below or shoot me a DM over on Instagram.

Pro tip: If you’re not sure about an ingredient listed in your deodorant or want to see how toxic or non-toxic it is, look it up on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database.

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